Why Men Go Bald

Why Men Go Bald -- And What To Do About it

All men go through a form of hair loss as they age. Whether it’s temporary or permanent, not noticeable or obvious, it can be stressful, traumatic and leave men uneasy. The simplest way of dealing with it is to just accept that it’s happening and move on, but that’s easier said than done. Thanks to advances in science and technology, there’s various potential solutions to consider.

Why it happens: genetics and hormones

According to Dr. William Yates, a hair loss medical doctor and expert based in the Chicagoland area, 40 million men in the Unites States experience hair loss. “For men, the cause for thinning hair is almost always genetic,” Dr. Yates says, explaining that the hair follicles on the top of the scalp have a DNA blueprint (from both sides, mom and dad) with a receptor (or not for the lucky few) that allows DHT (dihydrotestosterone) to bind to a receptor on the hair follicle to cause the process of balding or miniaturization.

Leonard Stillman, HairMax’s Director of Professional Services and hair loss expert, further explains that testosterone is an androgen hormone that regulates hair growth and stimulates the follicle to produce healthy hair. “When testosterone is converted into DHT, it shrinks the hair follicles, resulting in shorter and finer hair and eventually, hair growth stops altogether, medically referred to as androgenetic alopecia.”

Stillmann also adds that there are many intrinsic factors that impact on hair loss. For instance, along with family genetics, another factor in hair loss is ethnicity. “Even though the types, prevalence and severity of hair loss vary between races, the causes are the same.”

Why it happens: seasonal changes and climate

Seasonal hair loss or shedding is possible, but Dr. Yates says that this hair loss is usually temporary and the hair that is shed usually grows back. Stillmann supports that by adding that it has been found by researchers that seasonal hair loss occurs predominantly in the early winter months, or October, November and December, and is a natural occurrence without cause for concern.

“Climate plays a factor in hair loss, with sun and heat causing most damage to hair,” Stillamann also says. “When temperatures are high, hair dehydrates and increased sweating causes follicles to lose the oily coating that protects them and makes the hair shine. Heat from the sun weakens the outer layer of the hair, causing it to look dry, brittle, frizzy, and create split ends.”

Why it happens: stress and other factors

“Stress, illness, and poor nutrition can cause hair loss but again, this is usually temporary and will reverse when the stimulating factor of the hair loss is corrected,” says Dr. Yates. However, he adds that if a man has the genetic propensity for hair loss and the hair that is shed is miniaturized, it might not grow back. “So, some of these life situations can cause earlier-than-planned hair loss in men.”

Stillmann adds that there are a number of external factors based on life choices that cause hair loss. “Research has shown that smoking can lead to hair loss, as well as alcohol, which can dehydrate and damage hair. Likewise, there are a number of drugs prescribed for various conditions, such as hypertension, which also can play a factor in losing ones’ hair.”

Solutions

Dr. Yates has provided a few different medical therapies to help slow down the hair loss process and revert some of the thinned hair to thicker hair again. They include:

Propecia 1 mg tablets, which is a prescription tablet that blocks about 70% of the DHT in a man's system to help stabilize the genetic hair loss and reverse some of the miniaturization. This is very effective in the crown area and midscalp — not as much in the front hairline, but it can still help.

Rogaine (minoxidil) 5% is an over-the-counter topical medication that also helps stabilize hair loss and reverse the miniaturization process.

Low Level Light Laser Therapy at the correct strength and proper use is also very effective. The light penetrates the scalp to the level of the hair follicle and stimulates ATPv (adenosinetriphosphate) to give energy to the mitochondria of the cells — stimulating the thin hair follicle to produce a better hair.

Dr. Yates adds that for men, the most satisfying outcome is a combination of one or all of the medical therapies plus a permanent hair transplant. Hair transplantation works by relocating permanent hair follicles (or those not affected by this genetic process) to areas of thinning on the top of the scalp. This hair is located in the back and sides of the scalp — "the bozo rim." A hair transplantation can completely transform a man's appearance and take years off by giving him back the frame of hair around his face. You are born with hair to frame your face for a reason - - it makes you more attractive.